We all have a role to play in women’s health. Women often serve as caregivers for their families, putting the needs of their spouses, partners, children, and parents before their own. As a result, women’s health and well-being becomes secondary. As a community, we have a responsibility to support the important women we know and do everything we can to help them take steps for longer, healthier, and happier lives.
The 13th annual National Women’s Health Week kicks off on Mother’s Day, May 13, 2012 and is celebrated until May 19, 2012. National Women’s Checkup Day is Monday, May 14, 2012. National Women’s Health Week is a weeklong health observance coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health. It brings together communities, businesses, government, health organizations, and other groups in an effort to promote women’s health. The theme for 2012 is “It’s Your Time.” National Women’s Health Week empowers women to make their health a top priority. It also encourages women to take the following steps to improve their physical and mental health and lower their risks of certain diseases:
• Visit a health care professional to receive regular checkups and preventive screenings.
• Get active.
• Eat healthy.
• Pay attention to mental health, including getting enough sleep and managing stress.
• Avoid unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking and not wearing a seatbelt or bicycle helmet.
Fortunately, there are a number of professionals in the Lincoln area who can help women achieve these and other important goals to ensure they are living their healthiest lives possible.
Preventive Care
The best way to take care of health issues is to put plans in place early to prevent issues from occurring or quickly taking care of issues as soon as they crop up. Seeing a chiropractor is a great way to head problems off early and keep yourself at optimum health. “One of the biggest thing that women deal with are headaches,” says Corey Dousharm with Mosier/Timperley Chiropractic. “Many times women go through their day “just dealing with the discomfort” or thinking “If I ignore it, it will go away!” Not the case. Most often, ignoring the pain leads to an increase in the number of Advil a women takes, which then puts strain on the rest of the body.
Most of the women I see are trying to conceive, pregnant, or mothers already. It is often headaches or low back pain that brings them in, and once they realize how beneficial chiropractic care can be in their life. Not many people are aware that a decrease in nervous input in the lower spine can be a cause of infertility issues, or that the pelvic changes a woman goes through when pregnant can create decreased space for the baby to grow and move, increasing the chance of breech presentation. Specific chiropractic adjustments help to restore balance to the nervous system and structure of the body, ultimately decreasing the pain of headaches, increasing input to the reproductive organs, and decreasing the pelvic distortion allowing more space for growth.”
Finding the right chiropractor for your needs is important when it comes to preventive health. “Search for a chiropractor who meets your specific needs,” suggests Corey Dousharm. “Don’t be afraid to be picky! I have taken extra courses in pregnancy and pediatric adjusting and have found that many times women are more comfortable opening up to other women, so a female doctor is often the way to go. Another important part to a woman’s health is decreasing the stresses that may arise. It is this reason that I started a group for women that meets the first Tuesday of each month at 6pm at my office in Mosier/Timperley Chiropractic. Knowing that there is someone out there going through the same things as you, or someone who has been there already, it is a great resource to creating a less stressful environment for yourself, ultimately leading to better overall health!”
Another huge part of preventive care is getting the proper nutrition and exercise. Women are so busy that they often put themselves last and don’t take the time to exercise or to nourish their bodies correctly. This can lead to weight issues and much more serious problems such as chronic diseases. Even if a woman carves out the time in her day to exercise or prepare a healthy meal plan, she often needs some guidance to help her and to keep her accountable. Though it’s easy to think you can accomplish these goals on your own, working with a professional is always a good idea to help you stay on track.
Choosing a professional to work with is all about your needs and your lifestyle. Are you able to make it to a gym 3-4 hours per week? If so, choosing a gym that is right for you needs is a great way to stay on track. Choose a gym that you feel comfortable in and not intimidated. Go visit gyms that you are considering. Most gyms will allow you a pass to visit and workout for a week or so and you can usually get a good feel for the environment in that amount of time. Talk to the trainers that are there (if there are trainers), visit with other gym-goers, try out the equipment. If they offer classes, take a few of them to see if you like them.
Of course, you may be at a stage in your life that joining a gym just doesn’t work out for you. If this is the case, working out at home can be just as effective if you know what you’re doing and have the proper reinforcement. In this case, working a personal trainer once or twice a month to fine tune your workouts and track your progress can be just what you need to take your fitness to the next level.
Eating right is also extremely important. While most of us know what is good for us (fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats) and what’s not (candy bars, processed foods), it’s not always easy to make the good choices, especially if we’re in a hurry. Proper planning is the way to go when it comes to eating right. Consider reserving part of your Sundays to cook healthy meals for the week and pre-package them in the right serving sizes so you can grab them as you leave for work or out to your kids’ activities. Also have portioned snacks ready to hold you over between meals and so you won’t be tempted to hit the drive-through when your stomach starts rumbling.
Getting the entire family in on the healthy eating program is the best way to not only ensure your health, but theirs as well. Have you ever tried to eat a salad while the rest of the family is having pizza and breadsticks? It’s not very easy (and not healthy for those you love!). More than likely, you are the one who is cooking most of the meals, so it’s your responsibility to make them as healthy as possible. If you have a spouse or child who does the cooking some days, talk with them about providing healthy options and how important it is for everyone. You can plan a ‘splurge’ day for the whole family so you don’t feel like you are constantly being denied the foods you love. A Saturday movie night with take-out food and popcorn makes the perfect reward for a week of healthy family eating.
If you need help with your eating plan or would like to work with a professional who can recommend the best foods for your lifestyle, consider working with a nutritionist. Many gyms have nutritionists either on staff or they consult with them, so they are easy to find. Working with a nutritionist is especially valuable if you have any food-related allergies or health problems. Issues like gluten intolerance are becoming more and more prevalent and nutritionists can help you find substitutes that will keep you healthy and not feeling deprived.
Mental Health Issues
Mental health can sometimes be a difficult area to talk about. Many women feel guilty for being depressed, especially if their lives are, from the outside, near perfect. However, depression and other mental health issues can affect anyone and it has little or nothing to do with your lifestyle and it’s not your fault. Most mental health issues are a product of chemical imbalances and often it’s impossible for you to fix them by yourselves. Don’t listen to the people who don’t understand and just tell you to ‘cheer up’. You don’t have to live with depression or mental health issues and there is help available. If you are experiencing depression, contact a professional who can evaluate you, develop a treatment plan, and help you get back to enjoying your life.
Reproductive Health
Whether you are in your child-bearing years or not, reproductive health should be of top concern. “It is important for women to have annual check-ups with their gynecologist,” says Courtney Sams, MSN, APRN with Women’s Clinic of Lincoln. “As a nurse practitioner in women’s health, it is our goal to provide health promotion and prevention strategies. Annual examinations include an evaluation of the woman’s weight, height, vital signs and physical examination. Being evaluated yearly will allow the provider to possibly catch medical issues early. Vital signs can reveal possible conditions that need further evaluation, such as high blood pressure. Other issues that may be found with a physical exam may include breast masses, abnormal cells on the cervix, pelvic masses and thyroid conditions. Routine blood work can detect issues such as diabetes, thyroid disorders, and elevated cholesterol.”
Chiropractic can also help with many reproductive issues. “I have helped many women with the pains commonly seen during pregnancy,” Corey Dousharm explains. “One in particular was severe pain in the front of the pelvis (pubic region). The pain kept her from sitting and sleeping comfortably as it would send a sharp, shooting pain into her belly and down her legs. After a few adjustments and exercises the pain was gone and she was able to enjoy the remainder of her pregnancy. During the time of her care, her MD was concerned with the breech lie of her baby. Utilizing Webster Technique with specific pelvic adjustments, I was able to decrease the tension in the pelvis, decreasing the intrauterine constraint. At her next appointment, her MD was pleasantly surprised to find that the baby was now in the appropriate head down position.”
Because women’s health issues can be very private (and sometimes embarrassing), choosing a provider whom you feel comfortable with is extremely important. “The best way to find a gynecologist to meet your needs is from recommendations from friends, family and co-workers,” suggests Courtney. “One can get onto specific office websites and read about the providers and the mission of the clinic. Things to consider would be if the provider is board certified and takes your specific health insurance. When a woman goes to an office, trust instincts on the way in which they are treated from the staff and the physicians.”
“It’s important to have a ‘medical home’,” states Denise Steinbach with Women’s Health Care Center of Williamsburg, “whether it is a family physician, internal medicine physician, a gynecologist or a nurse practitioner.” When looking for that ‘home’, she suggests, “Look at websites, visit with happy patients and ask your friends, family, co-workers, etc. and listen for word-of-mouth referrals.”
Vein Health
Regardless of age, many women deal with vein issues such as varicose veins, or chronic venous disease. According to Eric Vander Woude, MD of Advanced Medical Imaging, “Chronic venous disease is more than a cosmetic issue. It has been estimated that varicose veins affect up to 40% of American women. Varicose veins can have a number of symptoms, including severe aching, throbbing and swelling of the ankles and feet as well as the visible symptoms most of us think of. If left untreated, varicose veins can lead to venous ulcers, which are chronic and can take months to heal and run the risk of becoming infected and leading to more serious problems.”
“Chronic venous disorders of the legs are very common,” he continues. “Varicose veins affect one out of two people age 50 and older, and 15 to 25 percent of all adults. Most women notice development of varicose veins around or shortly after child-bearing. Most commonly the varicose veins will continue to enlarge throughout life. If there is a family history of varicose veins, the risk of developing veins is significantly higher.
“A vascular and interventional radiologist, a doctor specially trained in performing minimally invasive treatments using imaging guidance, will use duplex ultrasound to assess the vein anatomy, vein valve function, and venous blood flow changes, which can assist in diagnosing venous disorders. The doctor will map the veins to determine if the veins are open and to pinpoint any reflux. This will help determine if the patient is a candidate for a minimally invasive treatment, known as vein ablation and/or sclerotherapy.”
Cancer Care
Unfortunately, even the best preventive maintenance may sometimes not be enough. Disease does occur, and cancer is one of the most prevalent diseases and affects women around the country each and every day. If you are experiencing a cancer diagnosis, it’s important to get the proper care—not only to help put your disease into remission, but also to help you get through the treatment with your life as intact as possible.
Southeast Nebraska Cancer Center is dedicated to providing patients with oncologic and hematologic diagnoses comprehensive, progressive medical care in a compassionate and caring setting.
They are proud to provide patients with access to the latest treatment protocols, clinical trials, and a personalized approach to diagnosis and therapy. Their entire staff is committed to helping our patients achieve the best outcomes. They are leading cancer care.
Below you will find the words from a few of the women who have come to Southeast Nebraska Cancer Center:
“Everyone is so caring and truly concerned about how you feel. I love that the whole Center is filled with laughter. During a time when you feel your worst…the staff is like sunshine that always makes you feel better.”
— Robin K
“This is the place to come for progressive, professional care. Rest assured that everyone here will make you feel reassured and ‘at home.’ ”
— Susie M
“The nurses are all friendly and fabulous and the schedulers are always so nice to me. Everyone calls me by my name and this makes me feel good like I am in a great place.”
— Joann B
Being a woman is not always easy. We have family, children, friends and a number of other people who depend on us and it’s quite easy to put our own needs aside to focus on others. However, if we don’t take care of ourselves, then we will not be in our best position to help those we love. By taking preventive measures to head off disease and other issues before they start and getting the right help if they do occur, we can ensure that we will be around for many years, healthy and able to provide the love and support to those important to us.